President Donald Trump fired at least 12 inspectors general on Friday, a move framed by the administration as part of a broader effort to restructure the federal government.
Critics, however, argue the firings undermine oversight and violate federal laws designed to protect the independence of these watchdog officials.
According to CBS News, the inspectors general were informed of their terminations via email from the White House, which cited “changing priorities” as the reason. The dismissals took immediate effect.
The affected agencies reportedly include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Small Business Administration.
Federal law mandates that Congress receive 30 days’ notice, along with a detailed explanation, before the dismissal of an inspector general.
A 2021 amendment to this law further requires that such notices provide a “substantive rationale, including detailed and case-specific reasons.” Critics argue that the administration’s failure to comply with these requirements raises legal and ethical concerns.
The exact number of dismissals remains unclear. Sources cited by The New York Times provided varying figures, with some reporting that 17 inspectors general were removed and others suggesting the number